1 Sest see Melkisedek oli Saalemi kuningas ja Kõigekõrgema Jumala preester. Ta kohtus Aabrahamiga, kui see pöördus tagasi pärast võitu kuningate üle, ja õnnistas teda 2 ning Aabraham jagas talle ühe kümnendiku kõigest. Tema nimi tähendab kõigepealt „Õiguse kuningas", peale selle ka Saalemi kuningas, mis tähendab „Rahu kuningas". 3 Ta on ilma isa, ema ja sugupuuta, tema päevadel pole algust ega elul lõppu, aga sarnaselt Jumala Pojaga jääb ta preestriks igavesti.

4 Vaadake, kui suur on see, kellele isegi esiisa Aabraham andis kümnist kogu sõjasaagist! 5 Leevi poegadel, kes astuvad preestriametisse, käsib Seadus koguda kümnist rahva, see tähendab oma suguvendade käest, ehk küll needki on põlvnenud Aabrahamist. 6 Aga see mees, kuigi ta ei põlvnenud Leevist, võttis kümnise Aabrahami käest ja õnnistas teda, kelle päralt olid tõotused! 7 Ja ilma igasuguse kahtluseta saab alam õnnistuse ülemalt. 8 Ühel juhul võtavad kümnist surelikud inimesed, teisel aga see, kelle kohta tunnistatakse, et ta elab. 9 Võiks isegi öelda, et ka Leevi, kes kogus kümnist, oli ise maksnud kümnist Aabrahami kaudu, 10 sest ta oli alles oma esiisa niuetes, kui Melkisedek Aabrahamiga kohtus.

11 Niisiis, kui täiuslikkus oleks olnud saavutatav leviitide preestriameti kaudu – sellele pani ju aluse rahvale antud Seadus –, miks pidi siis veel tulema teine preester Melkisedeki korra järgi, mitte aga Aaroni korra järgi? 12 Kui preestriamet muutub, sünnib paratamatult ka Seaduse muutmine. 13 Sest see, kelle tulekust räägitakse, on pärit teisest suguharust, kellest veel ükski ei ole teeninud altari juures. 14 On ju teada, et meie Issand on võrsunud Juuda suguharust, kellele Mooses ei ole preestriametiks mingit korraldust andnud.

15 Mis me oleme öelnud, saab veel selgemaks, kui see teistsugune preester tõuseb Melkisedeki sarnasena, 16 olles saanud preestriks mitte maise Seaduse korralduse tõttu, vaid hävimatu elu väe tõttu. 17 Sest on tunnistatud:

„Sina oled preester igavesti,

preester Melkisedeki korra järgi."

18 Eelnev korraldus kaotab kehtivuse, sest see oli jõuetu ja kasutu – 19 Seadus ei teinud ju midagi täiuslikuks –, selle asemele tuuakse aga parem lootus, mille kaudu me saame tulla Jumala ligi.

20 Ja seda ei tehtud ilma vandeta! Teised said preestriteks ilma vandeta, 21 aga tema sai preestriks vandega, kui Jumal ütles talle:

„Issand on vandunud

ega muuda meelt:

„Sina oled igavesti preester!" "

22 Selle vande tõttu on Jeesus saanud parema lepingu käendajaks.

23 Preestreid on tõepoolest palju olnud, sest surm ei lubanud neil ametis jätkata, 24 kuid Jeesuse preestriteenistus on muutumatu, sest tema püsib igavesti. 25 Sellepärast suudab ta päästa igaveseks neid, kes tema kaudu Jumala juurde tulevad, sest ta elab alati, et nende eest paluda.

26 Just sellist ülempreestrit me vajame: tema on püha, veatu, puhas, eraldatud patustest ja ülendatud üle taevaste. 27 Erinevalt teistest ülempreestritest ei ole temal vaja päevast päeva tuua esmalt ohvreid omaenda pattude eest ja siis rahva pattude eest, sest seda ta on teinud ühe korra ja lõplikult, kui ta tõi ohvriks iseenda. 28 Sest Seadus seab ülempreestriteks inimesi nende nõrkuses, aga vandetõotus, mis tuli Seadusest hiljem, seab ülempreestriks Poja, kes on saanud täiuslikuks igavesti.

1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; 2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; 3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. 4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. 5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: 6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. 7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. 8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. 9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. 10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. 11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. 13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. 17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. 20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: 21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) 22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. 23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: 24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.